Background

In the early 1990's, the Civic Cultural Commission recognized
a continual reduction in the amount of class time Redwood City
students spent on the arts. To address this and to encourage
students to become more creatively active, the
Civic Cultural Commission worked to organize an art contest
for all Redwood City grade school students.

The Youth Art Contest was first held in 1991. In 1993, the
Civic Cultural Commission invited High School students to
participate in the art contest, but that only lasted one year.
In 1995, the Civic Cultural Commission partnered with the
Historic Resources Advisory Committee on a historic theme for
the Youth Art Contest in honor of Historic Preservation Week.
In 1999 and 2000, the Youth Art Contest included poetry.
In 2009, the Civic Cultural Commission partnered with the
Redwood City Education Foundation to include essays along
side the Art Contest entries.
2011 will represent the 20th year anniversary of the Youth
Art Contest.